15/05/2013
MP raises concern with
Minister in Anxiang Du missing interpreter case
AN MP has raised his concerns that an interpreter
failed to show up for a quadruple murder suspect’s court hearing - delaying the
case - with the Ministry of Justice.
Michael Ellis, MP for Northampton North, this week
spoke to Chris Grayling after hearing a translator did not show up for the plea
and case management hearing of Anxiang Du.
High Court Judge Mr Justice Julian Flaux said it
was a ‘complete disgrace’ at Nottingham Crown Court last Friday.
Mr Du, 54, is accused of the murder of Jifeng
‘Jeff’ Ding, his wife Ge ‘Helen’ Chui and their two daughers, Alice, 12, and
Xing, 18, who were found at their home in Pioneer Close, Wootton, in May 2011.
Du, who was formally arrested in February after
being extradited to the UK from Morocco, is yet to enter a plea to the charges.
Mr Justice Flaux said his clerk had been told it
was ‘not worthwhile’ for an interpreter to turn up for the hearing because they
would ‘not make enough money’.
Mr Ellis said Mr Grayling agreed to look into the
matter.
He said: “Mr Grayling was concerned and said he
would be looking into it and would take appropriate action in due course.”
Adjourning the hearing for two months, Mr Justice
Flaux said: “I will be asking for a written explanation to explain what had
happened. It is a complete disgrace.”
Caroline Mooney, spokeswoman for Capita, said:
“After the original interpreter booked to attend the hearing was unable to
attend, Capita translation and interpreting worked to secure a replacement.
“The replacement interpreter could not attend until
2.30pm and we communicated this, in good time, to the court.
“Capita at no time refused to arrange an
interpreter to attend Nottingham Crown Court on cost or any other grounds.”
His provisional trial date has been moved from
August 5 to November 12.
Mr Du was remanded into custody to next appear at
Northampton Crown Court on July 19.
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